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.VOLUME 3, NUMBER 11,
complete and abject surrender of those who xnado
the fight in 189b and in 1900. And this surrender
is not confined to the party's position on tho
money question. It moans that the party must
stop its opposition to the demands o organized
wealth on all questions, must nominate a ticket
composed of men who aro in the confidence of tho
money magnates and tho trust magnates, and then,
allow the parly to he so organized that it can
collect an enormous campaign fund from the men
who arc enjoying special privileges and immuni
ties at tho hands of tho government Reorganiz
es do not stand for any real or positive reform.
This is tho harmony program, and there is
no reason why any truo believer in democratic
principles should be deceived by it If tho men
who talk about harmony so much really want
harmony, why do they not content themselvc3
with contributing their mite toward democratic
success? Certainly those who helped to defeat
tho party, if they realize the gravity of their of
fence, will ho ashamed to ask for leadership, and
those who aro not restrained by a sense of pro
priety can hardly be trusted with tho reins.
The voters who in 189G and 1900 risked social
and business ostracism aro perfectly willing to
welcome back and forgive those who went astray,
provided those who return come back changed in
sentiment and purpose. But why welcome men
whoso only object in coming back is to mako
tho democratic party an adjunct and an aid to
tho republican party? Why have a fight in tho
convention if it is going to result in renewed
alienation unless tho party sounds a retreat? In
stead of inviting harmony these so-called "har
monizers" aro only planning for more contention.
Mr. Bryan's views and conduct affect only
himself and thoso who choose to bo influenced
by what ho says or does, but ho can no more- shirk
his responsibility, bo it great or little, than other
democrats can. Evory democrat owes a duty to
himself, to his party and to his country, to con
tend for thoso things which ho believes to bo best
If Mr. Bryan could relieve himself from this re
sponsibility merely because thoso who have op
posed him would bo gratified by his silence, then
democrats might, with tho same logic, bo urged
to cease contending for democratic principles be
eaiiBo their silonco would gratify tho republicans.
If Mr. Bryan, with his knowledge q tho plans and
purposes of tho reorganizes, refrained from point
ing out tholr monaco to tho party's 'welfare; 'iu?
could justly bo accused of ano?tae"6r cowardice.
Who is under groator obligation than ho to tho
4 , democrats whi woro loyal in both campaigns?
Tho fact that ho is not a candidate for any office
makes It moro imperativo rather than less that
ho should do a citizen's part in tho discussion of
public questions and in tho plans proposed for
making democratic principles effective. What
would bo thought of a neighbor who failed to give
notice of an attempted burglary merely for fear
of disturbing tho quietude- o a neighborhood?
The leaders among the reorganizes are making a
burglarious attempt to enter tho democratic party
for tho purpose o carrying away whatever It has
of valuo to thoso who occupy the house, and it
IB timo to sound tho alarm.
, n,n7 real (lemcrat Is deceived ho has him.
self to blame, for tho admissions of tho reorgan
izes aro sufficient to put all on their guard
Lot us have harmony; not tho harmony that
would enable tho wolf to enter tho lamb fold un
noticed, but a real harmony between those who
bollovo in a government of the peonle
by ho people and for the people a
minis ored according to tho doctrine of
equal rights to all and special privileges to
none -a government which would protect the
people from ovory arm uplifted for their Injury.
No other harmony is either desirable or possible
mrr?lony,ib5nq?.et8 that aro destened to ob
liteiato tho distinctions between democracy and
tended05' CtlU nly brhlg GVi1' uowover wel in-
JJJ
The Logical Candidate.
When a few months ago it wa3 stated n
Grover Cleveland was. the conspicuous advisor St
tho reorganizes, other representatives of that
element denied, tho charge.
t W1n(;n w,as Sllsgested by tho editor of tho
Louisville Courier-Journal that Mr. Cleveland wol
ambitious to become tho democratic nominee In
1904 the statement was greeted with general
laughter. Yet today W0 find some of the rep
sentatlves of these reorganizers actually boomin
Mr. Cleveland for the nomination. D00mm
A Washington dispatch to the Sioux City Tri
bune, under date of March 19, says that "two
weeks ago politicians hero talked Judge Parke?
if by magic, ClevelandVname is aU demote
The Commoner.
tongues." In the same dispatch it is said that
this political change "has developed With aston
ishing rapidity throughout the east within the last
few days;" and it is said that "something nearly
approaching a serious demand that Cleveland be
the candidate for president next year," is very no
ticeable. It is added that "Mr. Cleveland has
yielded to the extent of agreeing to make an ex
tensive tour of the west in April and May." It is
further explained that "the demand for considera
tion of Cleveland was voiced by the New York
World, now the sanest democratic newspaper pub
lished in the east"
The World in a conspicuous editorial under
takes to show "why Cleveland is strong." The
World says that "it did not require tho news o
Mr. Cleveland's projected tour of tho west to keep
alive or to stimulate public interest in the possi
bility of his nomination by the democrats for tho
presidency."
The World reminds its readers that on Feb
ruary 21 it presented "a number of reasons for
thinking that as issues and events are now shap
ing it is premature and illogical to reckon Mr.
Cleveland out of the race." The World maintains
that the third term objection to Mr. Cleveland is
"not strictly relevant." It thinks that the fact
that there would bo an interval of eight years,
with two other presidents of the opposite party
intervening would remove the third term objec
tion. It thinks that the enemies Mr. Cleveland
has made are not really worthy of consideration
because his first election was greatly aided by
the "enemies he has made." The World thinks
that Mr. Cleveland's refusal to support the demo
cratic ticket during the last two presidential cam
paigns is not material because in that refusal "he
had the company of a million democrats more or
less."
The World adds:
"The whole question resolves itself into
this: What other democrat is as strong as
Grover Cleveland? What other candidate
could command so many republican and inde
pendent votes in the great pivotal states that
aro absolutely essential to democratic suc
cess? What other democrat ever did get so
many votes outside his party in these states
as Cleveland did in 1892, when ho carried not
only New" York, New Jersey and Connecticut,
'" but Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, California,
and got one electoral vote in Ohio, so narrow
was the margin there."
In spite of all the objections that have been
urged, the World concludes that Mr. Cleveland is
"the logical candidate and the strongest candidat3
of his party."
It is hardly necessary to engage in a discus
sion as to tho claims of this man upon a demo
cratic nomination. Democrats might be quite
willing to forget that, after very nearly wrecking
the democratic rarty in his second administration,
Mr. Cleveland deserted that partr in 189G and In
1900 and gave whatever power and influence he
possessed to the aid of the republican party; but
it will bo a bit more difficult for them to forget
Mr. Cleveland's undemocratic record in the White
house during his second term.
The World seems to think that the south may
be. depended upon to cast its vote solidly for Mr
Cleveland and that the objections to him in west
ern states are not worthy of consideration. It
says that these states ore republican and that even
though a million democrats should oppose Mr.
Cleveland in hopelessly republican states, "it
would make no difference in the result "
What assurance has the World that it can
porsuado democrats oven in states that are not
hopelessly republican to go to the polls and voto
for a man whose bond deals and other engaee-
Snfl1 ?5rGet' whoso Plain contompet for
tho interests of his party and whoso open dis
regard for the welfare of the country were vigor
ously denounced even by the New York World il
andomwSSa81 f anmzInS that these editors
and politicians who assume to themselves a mo
rn KT polital sagacity, as weU S upono
JLiCfaJ VirtU' 8hould cl0SQ thoir eyes to the fact
t S ArLPreSenc? of tUe S ovs under which
What a magnificent spectacle tho democrntio
party would present with Grover Clo?ouSS S ite
standard-bearer in 1904; and yet If the demo
cratic party is to stand for things which the S
ganizors hope tho party will stand for, if the"
hZfl? nVV11!7 t0 hQ reorganized for tho
benefit of tho trust magnates, then Grover Clevr!
landTjs; indeed, the logical candidate.
If the democratic party is to be asked to re-
vise its platform, to choose its candidate accord
ing to the pleasure of men among whom Mr
Cleveland is a conspicuous advisor, then it wili
be far better that Mr. Cleveland himself be the
candidate of this element Under such circum
stances, no one' need be deceived. Democrats to
their great sorrow know the man. They aro
familiar with his record. They have every reason
to know tho course he would pursue should ho bo
elected for a third term; and if in the light of all
this knowledge ho was permitted to. become tho
party nominee democrats would have only them
selves to blame for the result
The democratic party, pretending to wage war
against special interests, with Grover Cleveland
as its candidate!
Tho American people, struggling under tho
enormous burdens that have been placed upon
them through tho greed and avarice of trust
magnates, turning for relief to a Grover Cleveland
administration!
What an inspiring spectacle, indeed, for sin
cere and conscientious men! What a magnificent
result for the contemplation of those who strug
gle for the destruction of special interests and
who hope for the restoration of popular gov
ernment! JJJ . .. - - x '
The Aldrich Bill;
In order that the readers of The Commoner
may know what to expect from the republican
party when congress meets in December, the Aid
rich bill is printed in full on another page. It
was called up near tho close of the last session of
congress, but there was not time enough to force
it through. It will be noticed that the secretary
of the treasury designates whatever national
banking associations he likes as depositories of
public money, ahd that they are to be employed
"as fiscal agents of the government, -performing
whatever reasonable duties may be required of
them." In these designated depositories the sec
retary may deposit public moneys received from all
sources, and may accept as -security any of tho
interest-bearing obligations of the United States
or of any state, also municipal bonds of any city
of 5,000 inhabitants, provided the city has been
in existence twenty-five years, has not for ten
years defaulted in tho payment of interest and
whose indebtedness does not exceed 20 pen cent
of the value of the taxable property. It Is also
provided that first mortgage railroad bonds mav
be used as security for such deposits, provided
the road has paid not less than 4 per cent per
annum on its entire capital stock for a period of
not less than ten years. The banks are to pay a
rate of interest to be fixed by the secretary,
amounting to not less than 1 per cent and the
United States is to have a general lien on all tho
assets of the bank, in. addition to the special se
curity above named.
The objections urged against this bill range
themselves under four heads. The first objec
tion was very forcibly stated by Senator Black
burn in reply to Senator Bailey. The senator from
lexas made a speech in favor of the Aldrich bill,
lie said that while he was opposed to the col
rufn , nn,necessary revenue, he thought it bet
ien ?.epsItt the mney in the banks, and thus
3J ifcJ0 circulation, than to lock it up in tho
iit i I?eotrtimated the amount thus to be de
SS nla $300'000'000; he not only favored de-
"Anntw charging of interest. He said:
fr Proyifion In this bill that I would pre
te? TaV?Qrtricn out' is the Provision for in
ihn Lch he,ve that ifc would be better to avoid
as nn?r nfof?bouf JhG evernment loaning money
also Tblppfnf ? gll Shed from Positing it" He
ient a Sifi.ifhe Provision giving the goyern
is an nSS.?al Hen on dePOsits, saying: "There
whfchTnWfentTr?0rte(i by the committee to
the eovlif Cf ? is the Provision that gives
bank nf nnt.a first 1Ien uPn the assets of tho
erameSt S aU Br dPositors. The gov
and th B SDecial security for its .deposit,
demand SSJnV' secretary of the treasury to
corned MinriiffiT'S is amPle " what he has be
JecTto thP , w i Hce was at first inclined to ob
but savq tLf ?i8lt,0 railroad bonds as security,
thanTbstniall. bJeCtin 3 moro sentimental
BallevWt?h,itatIo,1B are made to show Mr.
bet S? Linl, Qe vm the sul)ct. and to give a
The fWaazvT nK0f Mr' Blackburn's answer,
impressed w Concessional Record will bo
Bnmen LvL? n !eel,ns that Mr- Bailey'a ar"
charrcterLtM"16 forco and logic that usually
making hff rS sPecces. Mr. Blackburn in
cans, but So Si , ,; stewart, and other republi
' Uut h0 hold his ground against them, an
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